Turf wars in radiology: the quality of interpretations of imaging studies by nonradiologist physicians--a patient safety issue?

Abstract

Previous publications have demonstrated that in side-by-side testing, radiologists clearly outperform nonradiologist physicians at interpreting plain radiographs. Other articles, mostly in the nonradiologic literature, have shown that in actual practice settings, nonradiologist physicians make frequent errors in image interpretation. On the other hand, several other studies have concluded that such errors are infrequent and generally do not affect patient outcomes. However, most of the latter studies have had methodologic flaws. Radiologists need to be aware of the evidence that exists in the medical literature on errors made by nonradiologists in image interpretation and to bring it to the attention of hospital authorities or medical policy-making groups that are charged with improving patient safety.